1.26.2010

redecorating project

I'm forced to take it easy today since my bursitis is acting up again. I've been doing some repainting—the first step of the bedroom redecorating project—and all the up and down motion of getting on and off the step ladder has stressed my hip once again. Sigh... it's hell getting old.

I promised to tell you about this project anyway so now is as good a time as any. I've moved my studio into the attic space which is slightly cozier (a nice way of saying 'smaller') so I'm going to have to be a bit more organized than I have been. But, what I gain in the process is a functioning third bedroom.

In choosing colors for this room I started with a piece of vintage fabric—a Waverly polished cotton from the 1950s-60s—that I found tucked under a stack of tablecloths at an antique mall. Don't you just love the colors on this? I've planned the whole room around them, starting with that pretty blue-green for the walls. Benjamin Moore #619 Copper Patina to be exact. I had a moment (actually several) of panic when I first applied the paint because it looks sickeningly mint green in the can. But it dried much darker and looks perfect on the walls.

I'm going with lavender for the sheets (to match those little speckled flowers), and the original inspiration fabric will become accent pillows on the bed. And remember that wonderful quilt top I bought several years ago for $15 at an antique mall? If not, you can see a bit of it in the top photo of this post. The predominant color of that quilt exactly matches the walls as well. There's a local quilt shop with a quilting machine that will finish quilts so I need to stop by and see what's involved in that process. I have just the top so will need to find a backing fabric that coordinates with everything.

I have a long length of lavender woven cotton (almost a linen-like texture) and will make a tablecloth for the round bedside table and more accent pillows for the bed. I have no idea yet what to do with the windows and floor except that I want to keep it very simple. And I really need to work in that lime green color from the fabric somewhere, too. Most decorating projects are an evolving process, so I'm not exactly sure what it will look like in the end. I'll post pictures when things are more settled!

Gosh, I just went to the doctor yesterday about this bad nagging achey pain in my hips while I am doing my walks...she said sounds like bursitis! Here I am trying to be fit (been walking since last Spring), and now I am miserable walking! I'm not a jogger 'cuz I know that can be horrendous on the hips, knees. I'll be 50 soon, but I look & feel much younger. Does it get better or worse with exersize? She gave me a pain pill prescription and said if it doesn't get better come back in a month...I googled it and got depressed reading other sufferers stories.

Tammy, I don't want to go into too much detail in a comment (email me if you want), but exercise seems to make it worse. In fact, that's how I got it the first time I had it years ago (stairstepper at the gym). It's an over use injury and the only thing that seems to help is rest and painkillers. Cortisone shots if it gets really bad. And it can take a very long time to heal. That's probably not what you wanted to hear :(

This room is going to be great! So many people are afraid of color on their walls, but it seems to me that you have pulled together all the elements needed for one spectacular space. Looking forward to seeing the finished room.